Washington – President Barack Obama commuted the sentences of 214 prisoners Wednesday, the most people he has ordered released at one time in his presidency, as the White House accelerates its clemency efforts for nonviolent drug offenders in the twilight of Obama’s term.
Obama has now shortened the sentences of 562 individuals during his presidency, more than the previous nine presidents combined. The group includes 67 people serving life sentences.
The Obama administration began a program to expedite thousands of clemency requests in 2014. The initiative emphasizes aiding nonviolent drug offenders who have served more than a decade in jail with good conduct and who would be eligible for shorter sentences were they convicted today.
